BONNIE AND CLYDE - NOTES

BONNIE AND CLYDE - 1967

DIRECTOR: ARTHUR PENN 

GENRE: Crime drama - Based on real events.

WHAT DOES BONNIE AND CYLDE REPRESENT?

- NEW HOLLYWOOD/ AMERICAN NEW WAVE: Chronologically evident that controversial subject matter would not have passed the high censorious standards of the Hays Code.

- HAYS CODE: No picture shall be produced which will lower the moral standards of those who see it. Hence the sympathy of the audience shall never be thrown to the side of crime, wrong-doing, evil or sin. 

- RELATIONSHIPS: Bonnie and Clyde run away together (not married) and sexual close ups of Bonnie towards the start. 

CONTEXT

- PRODUCTION CONTEXT: New Hollywood; new departure with younger generation (some backlash towards the control of the old system/ studios). 

- CULTURAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT: Heart of 1960's San Fransisco, the start of the LGBT movement, pacifism, Vietnam, Civil rights, Liberal politics, youth culture, Democrat succeeds JFK (1963), Feminist movement. 

- RACISM: The concession to civil rights which we see within the film's narrative reflects the mood and politics of the 1960's, rather than the lack of civil rights in the 1930's.

In one sequence; a black man is given the opportunity to show his anger and pain, this emerges as a symbolic gesture. 

THEMES

- Gender issues

- Race

- 1930s through the lens of 1960s

- Justice

- Violence

- Society and class

- Crime

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

- Bonnie is 21, bored and restless - West Dallas.

- Clyde just finished his 2 year jail sentence for robbery. 

- Bonnie see's Clyde try to break into her mother's car.

- She's fascinated with him and leaves with him.

- Clyde steals money from a Grocery store and Bonnie loves the thrill that follows Clyde and they hide out in an abandoned home. 

- Exploration of gender issues and sexuality.

- Clyde barrow's impotence, his feminine sensitivity in contrast to Bonnie's masculine attributes, her daring approach to crime and her attitude towards Clyde. 

- Film was influenced by the liberal times, but the narrative reflects events which took place in the 1930's. 

- French new wave - influence in Hollywood. 

- Both characters break societal conventions of their respected roles. 

KEY SEQUENCES

BONNIE'S AND CLYDE CAR ESCAPE/ RESTAURANT TALK

CINEMATOGRAPHY

- Colourful background helps with the happiness that Bonnie currently feels due to her new environment. 

SOUND

- Clyde has a deep voice in compare to Bonnie who has a light tone in her voice. 

MISE-EN-SCENE

- Bonnie wears white clothing, and Clyde wears a black suit: YIN + YANG

- Her white clothing emphasises purity and how she hasn’t experienced any crime previously - opposite to Clyde. 

EDITING

- Hectic editing emphasises Bonnie’s emotions as her life has changed instantaneously. 

- This also adds to the tension towards the start of the scene, as Bonnie’s adrenaline is taking over her.

- Multiple shot-reverse-shot’s express the close relationship between Bonnie and Clyde and how their lives intertwine.

IDEOLOGY

"I don’t like that, change it”. 

We can clearly see the power distinction when Clyde tells Bonnie what to do in situations. This is representative of society at the time where Men where deemed to have the more dominant role in a relationship. 

SPECTATORSHIP

The spectators may believe that due to Bonnie’s excitement during the start of the scene, she is solely addicted to the crime aspect of Clyde and not his physical aspect. 

Seeing the differences between Bonnie and Clyde, the spectator can see how Bonnie and Clyde’s relationship could not work as they are too different. 

The spectator can also see how Bonnie tries to destroy the societal expectations of women at the time. 

BLANCHE IN THE CAR WITH BLANCHE

- We can completely see the differences in types of women.

- Blanche takes the role of a 'traditional' subservient woman who completely contrasts to Blanche who subverts any societal expectations of women at the time. 

- This expresses how society punishes Bonnie for this subversion and she dies. 

- The different colours of clothing emphasises the differences between them. 

- The tone of the voices express the new changes in Blanche: he voice is deeper now than before. 

- Bonnie and Blanche are shown as polar opposites as Blanche sells out the others while Bonnie stands to fight. 

BONNIE THINKS ABOUT HER FAMILY

- Characters have a moment of reflection on their choices.

- This is where Bonnie and Clyde's emotional connection grows stronger.

- Bonnie pines for the family she has lost by being with Clyde.

- Moss and Blanche consider their past as Christians and reflect on the choices that made them criminals. 

- Bonnie has a complete change of character since the start: 

Very sexualised, powerful and independent vs Desperate love for her family and unhappiness. 

- Rejecting Clyde - inner self

BONNIE'S FAMILY REUNION:

- Very stylised cinematography.

- Blue filter creating a dreamy, unreal feel.

- Bonnie's sleek hair and outfit - she is presenting her ideal self.

- Black costume and limited conversation create the feel of a funeral.

- Mother rejects Clyde and his alleged 'marriage proposal'.